Bluegrass always has had a strong female presence in band-leaders and vocalists.
Alison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent and Alison Brown all have led successful bands and forged successful careers from straight-up traditional to forward-thinking, progressive bluegrass and newgrass.
Add Rebecca Frazier to that list. The Virginia-born, one-time Colorado resident was a member of the Front Range band Hit and Run, which played regionally and performed many times at the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown.
Frazier’s latest version of Hit and Run, which also features Isaac Eicher on mandolin, Erik Alver on bass, Mike Sumner on banjo and Becky Buller on fiddle, will perform Saturday on Reservoir Hill at the Pagosa Folk ’N Bluegrass Festival. Also performing are Noam Pikelny and Stuart Duncan, Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, Mandolin Orange and more.
Frazier began playing guitar as a pre-teen. Lessons at 11 and her own instrument at 12 found her playing what typical kids may play – folk, rock and pop and some Guns N’ Roses. It wasn’t until college, where she was studying music, that she jumped into bluegrass.
It’s a transition experienced by many who stray toward the sounds of bluegrass. All it takes is a little nibble to be hooked for life. Many musicians learn how to play other genres, only to get hooked on bluegrass like a street junkie.
“That bug did hit me, especially once I went to college and was surrounded by musicians,” Frazier said in a phone interview. “They had all sorts of great chops like jazz and classical and bluegrass. That was inspiring for me. I started learning how to transcribe a lot of Tony Rice, Doc Watson and Clarence White.
“I’m really glad the bug bit me when it did. I was a music major at the University of Michigan, and I was able to use the knowledge I was getting from my jazz improvisation classes and all of my music classes. I was (able) to transfer knowledge onto learning bluegrass. It was pretty cool.”
After a successful run with Hit and Run in Colorado, Frazier moved to Nashville, then music took a backseat to marriage and motherhood. She jumped back into music with her 2013 release, “When We Fall.”
Frazier was welcomed back to Durango with open arms at this year’s Meltdown, after a 10-year absence. This will be her first time performing in Pagosa Springs, where she’ll be as much fan as performer.
“There’s a circle of life going on, especially with the Durango scene; it’s a very vibrant bluegrass and old-time scene,” Frazier said. “With Pagosa, you can’t beat the lineup. Such fresh acts and great range of acts. It’s cool they are able to put together an eclectic mix that also rings true for real bluegrass fans and also for more folk and Americana acts, too.”
Liggett_b@fortlewis.edu. Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager.
Bryant’s best
Friday-Sunday: Pagosa Folk ’N Bluegrass Festival. $50 single day/$105 weekend pass. Reservoir Hill, Pagosa Springs, www.folkwest.com.
Friday: Bluegrass jam, 9 p.m. No cover. The Balcony Backstage, upstairs, 600 Main Ave., 764-4083.
